Web 2.0 Suite wrap up

I have spent the past few posts working through how a small ministry or church could leverage the power of free “web 2.0” tools for effective Internet ministry. If you missed a post or two, here is a quick summary:

Web 2.0 suite for ministries: this opening post gave a quick overview of the concept of using free web 2.0 tools to develop a web presence that is compelling, cutting-edge, and relevant.

Web 2.0 suite step 1: Building a “home”: this post got us started with the idea of using a blog tool, such as WordPress, as a home page.

Web 2.0 suite step 2: Add content: this post described how to get content on the site. The key is to not only post new text content regularly, but also to integrate video from YouTube and pictures from Flickr!

Web 2.0 Suite step 3: getting noticed: once your site is up and running, people need to find it. A good domain name is the first step. A close second is getting returned in search results. If people are looking for you, they had better find you!

Web 2.0 Suite step 3: getting noticed (continued): in order to show up higher in search results, you have to get others to link to your site. This post tells you some of the ways to do that.

Web 2.0 Suite step 4: socializing: this post focused on how to find the people who may not necessarily be looking for you. Find out what your community does online and then go there!

The reason I have spent some much time on this topic is that I believe that many churches feel that they just can’t “do” the web properly, and so they do not try. Some do try and end up with a half-hearted effort that is, well, embarrassing.  And yet others spend a fortune on professional services when possibly that money could be more appropriately spent.  I am not saying that a ministry should not spend big money on a web site. For certain organizations, it is the appropriate thing to do. For many, a “web 2.0 suite” web site will be a first step toward something larger down the road. For others, however, it may serve all the needs of the organization for many, many years.

One last thing: I’m sure there are several other web 2.0 tools that I have not mentioned. If you find some that you think might be appropriate to add to this “web 2.0 suite”, please let me know!